LEBANON - March 14 - Pro-Aoun Student Protest Against Syrian Presence.

The army swamps the Beirut streets as peaceful demonstrations against the Syrian presence are staged by the Liberal National Students Grouping, which supports ex-military leader Michel Aoun who is exiled in Paris. The grouping has called on the Lebanese "to prove to the world that they are a living people" by peaceful gatherings at government buildings on the 14th anniversary of Gen Aoun's forlorn attempt to drive out Syrian forces. Battle-ready troops backed up with armoured vehicles are deployed at busy intersections. Checkpoints create long tailbacks, with impatient drivers honking their horns. (With 35,000 soldiers in Lebanon, Syria has supervised Lebanese politics since the civil war ended in 1990. Growing opposition to Syria's presence has been strongest among Lebanon's Christians, who make up about 40% of the country's 3.7-4m population. Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir is attacking the Syrian presence during his current tour of the US and Canada, home to many Lebanese expatriates. Sfeir has said: "Lebanon existed 1,800 years ago within its modern official boundaries. It was mentioned 66 times in the Bible". The government insists this is not the time to raise the Syrian role). PM Hariri says: "Syria's presence here is necessary, legitimate and temporary. We are now in a critical situation, with the new government in Israel (led by Likud hardliner Sharon), and discussing Syria's presence here is out of place". On March 16 Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said it was time for Beirut and Damascus to review the Syrian presence.